After
many decades of yearly combined vaccinations, many "dog experts" are
now saying yearly vaccinations may not be needed and are probably harmful to
your pet. Here at TOP DOG, we tend to agree and our personal
practice has changed in the past few years...therefore, since our dogs live in
the boarding kennel, the kennel accepts the new vaccine protocols.

We
breed schipperkes and since changing our vaccine protocol and the type of food
we feed, we have seen a tremendous improvement in our breeding program.
Our litter sizes have increased from 1-2 puppies to 4-6 puppies. Our girls
come in season at 6 months and cycle regularly every 6 months. The schipperkes
are much healthier and have never looked better!

This
page is to present some facts on the vaccine controversy so that you may
decide for yourself what is best for your pet. Please, don't
change your vaccination schedule without researching the facts, both pro and
con.

Ronald D Schultz, Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Pathobiological Sciences
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin

Annual
VaccinationA practice that was started many years ago and
that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccinations. Almost
without exception there is no immunologic requirement for annual revaccination.
Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal. Successful
vaccination to most bacterial pathogens produces an immunologic memory that
remains for years, allowing an animal to develop a protective anamnestic
(secondary) response when exposed to virulent organisms. Only the immune
response to toxins requires boosters (eg: tetanus in humans), and no toxin
vaccines are currently used for dogs or cats. Furthermore, revaccination with
most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response as a
result of interference by existing antibody (similar to maternal antibody
interference). The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be
considered of questionable efficacy unless it is used as a mechanism to provide
an annual physical examination or is required by law (ie: rabies vaccinations in
some states).

What
Vets Don't Tell About Vaccines

What
Vets don't tell you about vaccines.

by
Catherine O'Driscoll

We
don't vaccinate humans every year, so why is it that we are advised to vaccinate
our dogs and cats annually? It is well known that a certain number of humans
will be damaged by vaccines, but vets claim that only a tiny minority of dogs
and cats suffer adverse vaccine reactions. Is this true?
After the death of two
young dogs, Catherine O'Driscoll discovered that the risks of vaccination are
much higher than anyone cares to admit - the 'tiny minority' is a significant
significant number! Today, many vets around the world are questioning the
vaccine regime. Some assert that vaccines do more harm than good, and the risks
far outweigh the benefits.

There
is solid scientific research to demonstrate that vaccines can be harmful.

vaccines
that can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain - encephalitis has
many diverse symptoms, usually involving a highly sensitized state such as
allergies, skin problems, behavioral problems, convulsions, eating disorders,
and more.

vaccines
that are mixed with deadly poisons.

vaccines
that can cause the diseases they are designed to prevent.

vaccines
that shed into the environment, spreading disease.

vaccines
that disarm and unbalance the immune system.

vaccines
which need and do not need annual usage.

FROM THE VET MED LIST

"Dear
Boarding Kennel Owner: "I would like to make you aware that all 27
veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their
protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats.

"Some
of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets,
and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political
compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss
of income vs those concerned about potential side effects. Politics, traditions,
or the doctor's economic well being should not be a factor in medical decisions.

NEW PRINCIPLES OF IMMUNOLOGY

"Dogs
and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months.
If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age it
produces an immunity which is good for the life of the pet
(ie: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is
given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the
antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is
not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced.
"Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary,
they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and
immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

"There
is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration
of MLV vaccines. "Puppies receive antibodies through their mothers milk.
This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should
NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize
the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced.
Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, delay the timing of the first highly
effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart suppress rather than
stimulate the immune system. A series of vaccinations is given starting at
8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination
given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 mo) will provide
lifetime immunity

CURRENT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DOGS

Distemper
& Parvo. According to Dr. Schultz, AVMA, 8-15-95, when
a vaccinations series given at 2, 3 & 4 months and again at 1 year with a
MLV, puppies and kitten program memory cells that survive for life,
providing lifelong immunity. "Dr. Carmichael at Cornell and Dr.
Schultz have studies showing immunity against challenge at 2-10 years for
canine distemper & 4 years for parvovirus. Studies for longer duration
are pending. "There are no new strains of parvovirus as one
mfg. would like to suggest. Parvovirus vaccination provides cross immunity
for all types. Hepatitis (Adenovirus) is one of the
agents known to be a cause of kennel cough. Only vaccines with CAV-2
should be used as CAV-1 vaccines carry the risk of "hepatitis
blue-eye" reactions & kidney damage.
Bordetella Parainfluenza: Commonly called "Kennel cough",
recommended only for those dogs boarded, groomed, taken to dog shows, or
for any reason housed where exposed to a lot of dogs. The
intranasal vaccine provides more complete and more rapid onset of immunity with
less chance of reaction. Immunity requires 72 hours and does not protect
from every cause of kennel cough. Immunity is of short duration
(4 to 6 months). RABIES : "There have been no reported
cases of rabid dogs or cats in Harris, Montgomery or Ft. Bend Counties
[Texas], there have been rabid skunks and bats so the potential exists.
It is a killed vaccine and must be given every year.

Lymes disease is a tick borne disease which can cause lameness, kidney
failure and heart disease in dogs. Ticks can also transmit the disease to
humans. "The original Ft. Dodge killed bacteria has proven to be the
most effective vaccine. Lyme disease prevention should
emphasize early removal of ticks. Amitraz collars are more effective
than Top Spot, as amitraz paralyzes the tick's mouth parts preventing
transmission of disease.

VACCINATIONS NOT RECOMMENDED

Multiple
components in vaccines compete with each other for the immune system and result
in lesser immunity for each individual disease as well as increasing the risk of
a reaction. Canine Corona Virus is only a disease of puppies.
It is rare, self limiting (dogs get well in 3 days without treatment).
Cornell & Texas A&M has only diagnosed one case each in the last 7
years. Corona virus does not cause disease in adult dogs. Leptospirosis
vaccine is a common cause of adverse reactions in dogs. Most of the
clinical cases of lepto reported in dogs in the US are caused by serovaars (or
types) grippotyphosa and bratsilvia. The vaccines contain different
serovaars eanicola and ictohemorrhagica. Cross protection is not provided
and protection is short lived. Lepto vaccine is immuno-supressive to
puppies less than 16 weeks.